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Chapter 3 - Devil throws a Monkey's wrenchKhushi "Lavie, how have you been?"
Lavie "Guess what! I am getting married. Next month. The invitations are out. I came by here to invite you."
They were both comfortably seated now.
Khushi "Hearty congratulations! Who is the lucky man?"
Lavie fetched her phone and held up a picture to reveal a tall well built man with dark smoker's lips.
Lavie "His name is Bhavani. He is an amazing guy and their family is also great. We are really into each other."
Khushi felt happy for her friend and asked the perfunctory question "So where did you meet? What does he do?"
Lavie "He has his own real estate thing. He owns a couple of buildings in Delhi. And then..."
Khushi "So basically he just collects rent and lives off it? Where does he work?"
Lavanya looked positively mortified. Probably she had never met anyone who was that direct. Khushi called a spade a spade. Nothing to be gained from calling it a beautiful flower now, was there?
Lavie flushed before replying "Khushi he is a nice person...I mean I like him..."
There was an awkward pause. Sometimes Khushi wondered if she did this on purpose. May be she didn't like people anymore at all. She behaved as if she was eighty years old. But if there was something that Khushi did not do, it was suffering idiots.
Her expression softened upon seeing Lavanya's moist eyes. This girl was getting married in a month with cotton eyed dreams. What right did Khushi have to...well...whatever it was that she did to...with no purpose at all...
Khushi "Lavie, I was just wondering if he was good enough for you. Because you are beautiful and talented. You are a successful dentist. I...I was just being honest. Probably he gets you like nobody else. It is your life. Congratulations."
But Khushi knew she had hurt Lavanya in all of five minutes that she had spoken. Oddly though she didn't care.
Lavanya winced "It sounds like you are telling me it is my funeral."
Her voice was a bit raised now "You have absolutely no business and right to talk like this. What do you think of yourself? Just because you are this big shot you think you can tell anybody anything!"
Khushi "Why are you angry? I just asked a question..."
Lavie "Oh really...Just a question huh. Did you know that this man held my hand when my father was in the hospital? He helped me emotionally and financially when I was in the dumps. Who would do that in today's world Khushi?"
Khushi smirked "Any hot blooded man who looked at you!"
"Shut up!", Lavanya stood up now.
Khushi "Sit Lavanya. I know I stepped out of my bounds. But I am not sorry for what I said. I have seen way too many women like you throw it all away for a man who they thought was their prince charming. Never trust a man who does not work. They are bound by law of nature to be petty and cheap."
Lavie "Stop lecturing me. You don't know me at all. You might be a big boss in your office but I am..."
Khushi "This has nothing to do with me..."
Lavanya did not sit. In fact she did not even stand. She threw her invitation at Khushi.
"You know Chamkili. For old times sake I want to invite you. I shouldn't be called petty and cheap, right? If I don't invite you, you will think I am a coward and cannot face you and your version of twisted reality."
Well Khushi believed one should never do something to just prove somebody wrong because then that somebody was right in the first place!
The entire room turned a shade of crimson as Lavanya stormed out. Garima had been a mute spectator until that moment. She knew better than to interfere with her daughter's decision making. Well she knew her daughter could be harsh and cruel sometimes but it was never to show arrogance or malice. Of this much she was sure. Although the entire world viewed Khushi differently.
"Will you have breakfast now, Khushi?"
"Yes amma. The upma smells delicious."
Life went on as usual in the Khushi household.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Tum Se Tum Tak
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